But the Frenchman shone on his full debut and helped set up Hatem Ben Arfa's opener before Yoan Gouffran claimed the winner.

And Pardew said: "We were really, really good. For the first time we had an offensive look to us which I don't think I have seen from the sidelines since Demba (Ba) left and it bodes well for games coming in the future.

"Injuries last year were a massive problem and it sounds like an excuse that the manager keeps rolling out. But to have the quality of Gouffran coming off the bench fresh makes the difference."

The manager reserved praise for maverick Ben Arfa, who grabbed the winner against Fulham last time out, and oozed class again at the Villains.

He added: "That's what Newcastle teams should look like today and in Hatem Ben Arfa he was sublime. He was doing things anybody would pay £50 to watch."